Starting device



April 7, 1 R. 'J. HEIRRIINGTON 2,278,547

STARTING DEVICE File d Jan. 11, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IINVENTOR j R634?Her/in ra A'ITO EY Patented Apr. 7, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 11Claims.

of means for returning the pull rope to its initial 7 position toautomatically reset the device for the next starting action, incombination with a mechanism in which centrifugal force is employed tobreak the driving connection when the motor turns under its own power.

In devices heretofore designed to accomplish the above objects, wherepawl and ratchet driving 5 connections have been employed, one importantdisadvantage, which the present invention overcomes, is theobjectionable impact of the centrifugally operated pawl members againstthe ratchet member as the latter is rotated to starting position afteran unsuccessful efiort to start the motor. The loud noise and undue wearon the parts is greatly reduced in the present construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide an outboard marine motorand starter assembly in which the force exerted by the operator instarting the motor will have substantially no tendency to rock the motorin a vertical plane about the point at which the motor is pivotallyattached to the boat.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the starter assembly takenon the line |--I of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the starter assembly taken on the line 2-2 ofFig. 1 showing the pawls and the weight members which operate them inthe position which they assume when the motor is at rest;

Fig. 3 is a plan view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, the coiledportion of the rope being removed for clarity;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but shows the pawls and the weightmembers in the position H which they assume when the motor is operatingunder its own power; and

Fig. 5 is a detailed cross-sectional view, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig.2 showing the constructlonof a portion of the pawl plate.

Like numerals designate like parts throughout the different views.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, a housing 2 shown inFig. 3 as having bolt holes 4 for the attachment of a suitable coverplate, serves to enclose and protect the starter mechanism. The coverplate '6 shown in Fig. 1 also constitutes the lower portion of the crankshaft housing. The motor and the fly wheel are, in this embodiment,disposed above the plate 6 and above the starter mechanism.

The starting mechanism is preferably located intermediate 'the*motor andthe propeller, adjacent the point of attachment of the motor to theboat. This attachment preferably includes a collar 1, which is pivotallysecured to a conventional bracket adapted to be clamped to the stern ofa boat. The entire motor and starter assembly may be rotated about thepivotal attach-ment in a vertical plane. The preferred construction,wherein the starting mechanism is located below the fly wheel and motor,reduces to a minimum the tendency of the motor to rock toward theoperator, upon application of pulling force to the pull rope, sinceleverage about the pivotal attachment of the motor is thereby greatlyreduced.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the crank shaft 8 of the motor is providedwith a squared portion 10 which passes through a substantially squareopening in the pawl plate l2, the latter constituting a driven memberand being secured against rotation with respect to the crank shaft. Thelower portion M of the crank shaft is round, as

4 shown by the dotted line in Fig. 2, and is threaded to receive a nutl6 which rigidly secures the pawl plate l2 to the lower end of the crankshaft.

A propeller shaft l8 constitutes a continuation of the crank shaft .3,the upper end 20 of the propeller shaft being squared and fitting withina square recess in the lower end of the crank shaft, as shown in dottedlines in Figure l. The crank shaft 8 rotates within a stationary housing22 and a sleeve 24 is rotatably mounted on the housing 22 and is securedagainst axial movement thereon by a washer 26. The rotatable sleeve 24has rigidly secured thereto a ratchet means including two spacedcomplementary plates 28 and 36] joined together to form a spool uponwhich the pull rope 32 may be wound. A series .of tangs 34 are punchedout of the lower plate 30 and extend downwardly at right angles thereto,the tangs being arranged in a circle about the center of rotation'andforming ratchet elements .engagea-ble by pawlsygenerally designated 36.

Pawls 36 act as the driving connection between the driving member andthe driven member as will be explained hereinafter, and they arepivotally secured to the pawl plate l2 by pins 38 about which they arefree to rotate. Although only two pawl members are shown, it will beunderstood that more than two may be used if desired.

Weight members, generally designated 40, are also pivotally secured tothe pawl plate l2 by pins 42 and the number of weight memberscorresponds to the number of pawl members. The pawl plate I2 is turnedup at its periphery thus forming an annular upstanding skirt portion 44which serves to limit the outward movement of the pawls 36 and theweight members 40. The pawl plate I2 is also preferably provided with acircular depression 46 into which the circular series of ratchetelements 34 extend. It will be noted that the upstanding annular portion44 of the pawl plate l2 encloses the ratchet elements 34 with which thepawls 36 are adapted to engage.

A spiral spring 48 is disposed about the drive shaft 8, one end of thespring being attached to the rotatable sleeve 24 at 50 and the other endof the spring being attached to the inner side of the housing 2 at 52.In the illustrative embodiment shown in the drawings the spring 48 isdisposed on top of the plate 28 and is wound in a counter clockwisedirection and the pull rope 32 is wound in a clockwise direction on thespool formed by the plates 28 and 30. Accordingly, when the pull rope ispulled outwardly from the housing the spiral spring 48 winds up and therope unwinds from the spool and vice versa.

The housing 2 is provided with a tubular extension 54 through which thepull rope passes and the opening at the end of the extension 54 issubstantially conical in shape to conform with the substantiallyfrusto-conical base 56 of the handle 58.

The spring is of sufiicient strength not only to return the pull rope toits initial position but also to keep it tensioned so that the handle 58is positioned in the opening of the extension 54.

The pawl members 36 and weight members 40 lie in approximately the sameplane, resting on the pawl plate l2, and a ring shaped plate 66, inwhich the upper ends of the pivot pins 36 and 42 are fixed, is disposedimmediately above the pawl and weight members.

Each pawl member is preferably provided on one side of its pivot pin 38with a projection 62 adapted to engage the ratchet elements 34 and anabutment 64 adapted to engage the annular skirt 44, and on the otherside of the pivot pin it is provided with a cam surface 66 against whichthe weight member 40 acts to move the pawl. The shape of the pawl is notimportant provided that it has parts or surfaces adapted for thesepurposes. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, however, it isimportant for reasons which will be pointed out hereinafter, that theweight of the pawl member be distributed approximately equally asbetween the part forming the cam surface 66 and the parts forming theprojection 62 and abutment 64. In other words, the pawl is approximatelybalanced with respect to the centrifugal force resulting from rotationof the pawl plate 12 about the drive shaft 8 and this centrifugal forcewill have substantially no tendency to move the pawl about its pivotpin.

Springs 68 resting in concavities 10 in the pawl plate are compressedbetween the upstanding annular portion 44 and the pawls 36 and act onthe sides of the respective pawls which carry the abutments 64 andprojections 62 so that the latter are urged inwardly into engagementwith the ratchet members 34.

As will be seen from the drawings, each weight member 40 is elongatedand pivoted intermediate its ends on a pivot pin 42. The portion T2 ofthe weight member, on the side of the pivot nearest the pawl 36, ispreferably considerably shorter than the portion 14 which is on the sideof the pivot remote from the pawl. The relative length of the portions12 and 14 is not critical but it is essential that the portion '14 beconsiderably heavier than the portion 12 so that centrifugal forceresulting from rotation of the pawl plate by the engine will throw theportion 14 out against the annular portion 44 of the pawl plate, as theweight member is thus rotated about its pivot pin 42 the portion 12 willmove inwardly and since the latter bears against the cam surface 66 ofthe pawl, the latter will be rotated in the opposite direction and willthereby be disengaged from the ratched elements 34.

Springs 16 resting in concavities T0 in the pawl plate are compressedbetween the upstanding annular portion 44 and the portions 14 of theweight members and consequently tend to move the latter about the pivotpins 42, this movement being limited by the abutment of the shorter arm72 against the upstanding annular portion 44 of the pawl plate.

It will be noted that in the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings,the weight members 40 are curved so that the contour of their outermostsides conforms generally with the curvature of the annular portion 44 ofthe pawl plate and the innermost side conforms generally with thecurvature of the circular series of ratchet elements 34. This shape isnot essential but it results in a more compact and economicalconstruction. It will also be noted that the shorter arm 12 of theweight member is substantially narrower than the heavier arm 14 and thatthe difference between the direction of curvature of the outer sides ofthe arms 12 and 14 determines the amount of movement of the weightmember about its pivot. This particular design is not essential but itis advantageous from the point of view of compactness, economy ofmanufacture and efliciency of operation.

As will be apparent from the drawings and the foregoing description, thestarting device operates in the following manner.

When the motor is at rest the parts assume the position illustrated inFigures 1 and 2, the pawls 36 engaging the ratchet elements 34 and theshort arms 12 of the weight members 46 resting against the inner wall ofthe annular portion 44 of the pawl plate. The parts assume theirpositions as the result of the action of the springs 68 and 76. Thesesprings are preferably designed to apply a force which is relativelysmall and only slightly in excess of that required to move the parts,allowing of course for the friction which will be encountered duringprolonged use of the device. This is particularly desirable in the caseof the springs 68, which may b lighter than the springs 16.

To start the engine the operator grasps the handle 58 and pulls the rope32 so as to unwind it and turn the ratchet means in a clockwisedirection. At the same time the coiled spring 48 will be wound up sothat when the pull rope is released the rope and the ratchet means willbe returned to their initial position by the tension of the spring.

During the movement of the ratchet means in a clockwise direction, theparts are in the starting position shown in Figures 1 and 2, andaccordingly there is a driving connection between the driving member(including the pulley and ratchet means) and the driven member(including the pawl plate 12 and the drive shaft 8 of the engine). Theresulting rotation of the drive shaft 8 will usually cause the engine tofire and start whereupon the drive shaft and pawl plate are rotated bythe engine independently of the rotation of the ratchet means.

This independent rotation of the drive shaft and pawl plate results inimmediate outward movement of the heavy portions 14 of the weight member40 as the result of centrifugal force. The weight member rotates aboutits pivot and the arm 12 moves inwardly against the cam surface 66 ofthe pawl 58 thus rotating the pawl and moving it out of engagement withthe ratchet elements. The centrifugal force tending to so move the partsis much greater than the force applied by the springs 68 and I6 and theparts will remain in the positions illustrated in Fig. 4 as long as theengine continues to run under its own power.

Furthermore if the engine should backfire and cause rotation of the pawlplate in a direction opposite to its normal direction of rotation,centrifugal force will also move the parts and disengage the drivingconnection, in the manner described above, so that injury to the partsor to the operator is avoided.

Frequently the engine does not fire upon the first few attempts to startit and, as explained above, the pull rope and starting device willautomatically return to its initial starting position when tension onthe rope is relieved. During the return rotation of the ratchet meansthe pawls slide gently over the ratchet elements 34 and the relativelysilent return operation contrasts with the loud noise and forcefulimpact which characterizes the return movement of a starting deviceemploying pawls which are weighted at one side of the pivot. Thisadvantage is due principally to the fact that there is no reat variancebetween the weight of the parts of the pawl on each side of the pivot.It is also desirable to employ springs which do not exert a forcegreatly in excess of that required to move the pawl into its engagingposition.

The use of a weight member which is separate from the pawl not onlypermits of the use of balanced pawls as described above but it is alsodesirable for other reasons. For example, th use of a separate weightmember enables a distribution of the weight in such a manner as toresult in a more positive and dependable action of the device.Furthermore the provision of an arm on the weight member which actsagainst a cam surface on one side of the pawl has an additionaladvantage in that the amount of leverage applied increases as the armmoves along the cam surface and away from the pawl pivot andconsequently there is a tendency for the pawl to be snapped quickly outof engaging position. Furthermore because of the increased leverage,less centrifugal force is required to hold the pawl in disengagedposition than is required to initiate the disengagement, thus insuringthat the pawls will not move back and contact the ratchet when theengine is idling.

It is to be understood that various changes may be made in the detailsof construction within the scope of the claims, without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a starter for a motor, a driven member connected to the crankshaft of the motor, a ratchet driving member encompassed by the drivenmember, means for rotating the ratchet member in a first direction, meanfor rotating the ratchet member in the opposite direction, a drivingconnection between the ratchet member and the driven member including apawl member pivoted on the driven member and adapted to engage theratchet member during the rotation of the ratchet member in the firstdirection, a weight member pivoted on the driven member and engaging thepawl member, both members being movable from a first position in whichthe pawl member engages the ratchet member to a second position in whichthe pawl member does not engage the ratchet member, the movement of theweight member resulting from centrifugal force acting on the weightmember upon independent rotation of the driven member, and the movementof the pawl member resulting solely from the movement of the weightmember.

2. In a starter for a motor, a circular driven member connected to thecrank shaft of the motor, said driven member having an upstandingannular skirt portion, a ratchet driving member including ratchetelements consisting of metal tangs punched out of a metal disk, saiddisk extending over the top of said skirt portion to form a cover forthe driving member, means for rotating the ratchet member in a firstdirection, means for rotating the ratchet member in the oppositedirection, a driving connection between the ratchet member and thedriven member including a pawl member pivoted on the driven member andadapted to engage the ratchet ele ments during the rotation of theratchet member in the first direction, a weight member pivoted on thedriven member and engaging the pawl member, both members being movablefrom a first position in which the pawl member engages the ratchetelements to a second position in which the pawl member does not engagethe ratchet elements, the movement of the weight member resulting fromcentrifugal force acting on the weight member upon independent rotationof the driven member, and the movement of the pawl member resultingsolely from the movement of the weight member.

3. In a starter for a motor, a driven member connected to the crankshaft of the motor, a ratchet driving member, means for rotating theratchet member in a first direction, means for rotating the ratchetmember in the opposite direction, a driving connection between-theratchet member and the driven member including a pawl member pivoted onsaid driven member and adapted to engage the ratchet member, during therotation of the ratchet member in the first direction, the weight of theportion of the pawl member on one .side of its pivot being approximatelyequal to the weight of the portion on the other side of the pivot, aweight member pivoted on said driven member and engaging the portion ofthe pawl member opposite the portion which engages the ratchet member,both members being movable from a first position in which the pawlmember engages the ratchet member to a second position in which the pawlmember does not engage the ratchet member, the movement of the weightmember resulting from centrifugal force acting thereon upon independentrotation of the driven member, and the movement of the pawl memberresulting solely from the movement of the weight member.

4. In a starter for a motor, a driven member connected to the crankshaft of the motor, a ratchet driving member, means for rotating theratchet member in a first direction, means for rotating the ratchetmember in the opposite direction, a driving connection between theratchet member'and the driven member including a pawl member pivoted onth driven member and adapted to engage said ratchet member during therotation of the ratchet member in the first direction, the weight of theportion of the pawl member on one side of its pivot being approximatelyequal to the weight of the portion on the other side of the pivot, aweight member pivoted on the driven member and engaging the portion ofthe pawl member opposite the portion which engages the ratchet member,spring means urging the pawl and weight members to a first position inwhich the pawl member engages the ratchet member, both members beingmovable from the first position to a second position in which the pawlmember does not engage the ratchet member, the movement of the weightmember resulting from centrifugal force acting on the weight member uponindependent rotation of the driven member, and the movement of the pawlmember resulting at least in part from the movement of the weightmember.

5. In a starter for a motor, a driven member connected to the crankshaft of th motor, a ratchet driving member, means for rotating theratchet member in a first direction, means for rotating the ratchetmember in the opposite direction, a driving connection between theratchet member and the driven member including a pawl member pivoted onth driven member and adapted to engage the ratchet member during therotation of the ratchet member in the first direction, the weight of theportion of the pawl member on one side of its pivot being approximatelyequal to the weight of the portion on the other side of the pivot, aweight member pivoted on the driven member and having a relatively heavyarm on one side of its pivot and a relatively light arm engaging theportion of the pawl member opposite the portion which engages theratchet member, both members being movable from a first position inwhich the pawl member engages the ratchet member to a second position inwhich the pawl member does not engage the ratchet member, the movementof the weight member resulting from centrifugal force acting on saidrelatively heavy arm upon independent rotation of the driven member, andthe movement of the pawl member resulting solely from the movement ofthe relatively light arm.

6. In a starter for an outboard marine motor, a driven member connectedto the crank shaft of the motor, a ratchet driving member, meansincluding a pulley and a pull rope permanently attached thereto forrotating the ratchet member in a first direction, spring means forrotating the ratchet member in the opposite direction. a

driving connection between the ratchet member and the driven memberincluding a pawl member pivoted on the driven member and adapted toengage the ratchet member during the rotation of the ratchet member inthe first direction, the weight of the portion of the pawl member on oneside of its pivot being approximately equal to the weight of the portionon the other side of the pivot, a weight member pivoted on the drivenmember and having a relatively heavy arm on one side of its pivot and arelatively light arm engaging the portion of the pawl member oppositethe portion which engages the ratchet member, both members being movablefrom a first position in which the pawl member engages the ratchetmember to a second position in which the pawl member does not engage theratchet member, the movement of the weight member resulting fromcentrifugal force acting on said relatively heavy arm upon independentrotation of the driven member, and the movement of the pawl memberresulting solely from the movement of the relatively light arm.

7. In a starter for a motor, a driven member connected to the crankshaft of the motor, a driving member, means for rotating the drivingmember in a first direction, means for rotating the driving member inthe opposite direction, a driving connection between the driving memberand the driven member including a pawl member pivoted on the drivenmember, the weight of the portion of the pawl member on one side of itspivot being approximately equal to the weight of the portion on theother side of the pivot, a weight member also pivoted on the drivenmember and engaging the portion of the pawl member opposite the portionwhich engages the driving member, means for holding the pawl and weightmembers in extended position for establishing the driving connection,both members being movable to a retracted position in which the pawlmember does not engage the driving member, the movement of the weightmember resulting from centrifugal force acting on the weight member uponindependent rotation of the driven member and the movement of the pawlmember resulting solely from the movement of the weight member, theweight member exerting greater leverage on the pawl member while in theretracted position than in the extended position.

8. In a starter for a motor, a driven member connected to the crankshaft of the motor, a ratchet driving member encompassed by the drivenmember, means for rotating the ratchet member in a first direction,means for rotating the ratchet member in the opposite direction, adriving connection between the ratchet member and the driven memberincluding a pawl member pivoted on the driven member and adapted toengage the ratchet member during the rotation of the ratchet member inthe first direction, a weight member pivoted on the driven member andengaging the pawl member, both members being movable from a position inwhich the pawl member engages the ratchet member to a second position inwhich the pawl member does not engage the ratchet member, the movementof the weight member resulting from centrifugal force acting on theweight member upon independent rotation of the driven member, the

movement of the pawl member resulting solely from the movement of theweight member, and the movement of both members to the second positionbeing limited by an annular skirt portion extending at right angles fromthe periphery of the driven member.

9. A marine outboard motor comprising an internal combustion engine, astarting device associated with the engine, means for operativelyconnecting the starting device to the engine in driving relationship, anattachment for securing the engine and starting device to a boat, saidattachment permitting the engine and associated starting device to berocked toward the boat, said starting device being operated by forceapplied thereto in a direction tending to move the engine toward theboat, and the starting device being located between the engine and thesaid attachment and adjacent the latter, whereby the force applied tothe starting device does not cause the engine and starting device torock toward the boat.

10. In combination with a marine outboard motor, a starting device, anattachment for securing the motor and starting device to a boat, saidattachment permitting the motor and starting device to be rocked towardthe boat, said starting device comprising a driven member connected tothe lower end of the crank shaft of the motor, a driving member belowthe crank case of the motor and including a pulley and a pull ropepermanently attached thereto, means for establishing a drivingconnection between the driving member and the driven member uponrotation of the driving member in a first direction, means fordisconnecting the driving member from the driven member upon independentrotation of the latter and means for rotating the driving member in asecond direction.

11. In combination with a marine outboard motor, a starting device, anattachment for securing the motor and starting device to a boat, saidattachment permitting the motor and starting device to be rocked towardthe boat, said starting device comprising a driven member connected tothe lower end of the crank shaft of the motor, a driving member belowthe crank case of the motor, means for rotating the driving member, adriving connection between said driving member and driven memberincluding a first member pivoted on the driven member and adapted toengage the driving member, a second member pivoted on the driven memberand engaging the first pivoted member, both members being movable from afirst position in which the first pivoted member engages the drivingmember to a second position in which the first pivoted member does notengage the driving member, the movement of the second pivoted memberresulting from centrifugal force acting on the second pivoted memberupon independent rotation of the driven member, and the movement of thefirst pivoted member resulting at least in part from the movement of thesecond pivoted member.

RALPH J. HERRINGTON.

